Justice Shlomo S. Hagler of State Supreme Court in Manhattan said the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission had exceeded its authority in creating a plan to mandate that nearly all yellow taxi operators purchase the same vehicle, a Nissan NV200 — the car chosen by the city as part of a Taxi of Tomorrow competition in 2011.
Justice Hagler said that “it is the province of the City Council, rather than the T.L.C., to make a policy decision that New York City should have one taxicab that is a hybrid, clean air and/or an accessible vehicle.”
Michael A. Cardozo, the city’s corporation counsel, said the administration planned to immediately appeal the decision, arguing that it was “well within” the taxi commission’s authority to mandate the Taxi of Tomorrow.
The Nissan NV200 has been criticized for being neither a hybrid nor wheelchair-accessible without adjustments.
But the plans have remained a hallmark of the Bloomberg administration’s transportation agenda. The cabs, which were supposed to begin appearing this month, were to be phased in over three to five years, until nearly all of the city’s yellow taxis were the same kind. Since making its selection, the Bloomberg administration has highlighted the cabs’ many amenities, including a spacious interior, a “low annoyance” horn, and transparent roof panels.
The mayor has also moved aggressively to remake other corners of the taxi industry. Street-hail livery taxis, cast in “apple green,” began appearing this year outside the traditional yellow taxi areas of Manhattan. The city has also overseen the emergence of taxi-hailing smartphone apps.
Candidates vying to succeed Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg have expressed deep reservations about his taxi policies. Both Bill de Blasio, the Democratic nominee, and Joseph J. Lhota, the Republican nominee, have said that they oppose the Taxi of Tomorrow plan.
Yahoo Local News – New York Times
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